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Amazon adds Android tablet support to Prime Instant Video app
Amazon has finally allowed Android tablets access to Prime Instant Video. Previously only available to iOS devices and, since September last year, Android smartphones, tablet users can now watch the same Prime Instant Video content via their device, reports Android Police. Prime subscribers need to install the dedicated Prime Instant Video app from the Amazon Appstore before watching shows.
Voice calls quietly added to WhatsApp in new update
WhatsApp is rolling out its voice calling function to all mobile users, starting with Android. Slowly introduced to users in early February, the latest update to WhatsApp in the Google Play app store is apparently enabled for the service, which lets users call other contacts instead of sending messages, though it appears users are still having to wait for their account to be enabled.
Reddit users allegedly find voice calling function in WhatsApp early
WhatsApp may have started to roll out voice calls to some of its user base, according to reports by users. Screenshots surfacing on Reddit suggest the vocal addition to the Facebook-owned messaging service could be making its way to devices, one feature the company has previously advised will be heading to the app early this year.
End-to-end encryption added in Android messaging app, adds TextSecure support
Those that love privacy, but have security concerns about using a messaging platform to stay in contact with friends and family, have a new app to look forward to. It was unveiled today that the most recent build of WhatsApp for Android features end-to-end encryption for messages, enabled by default (similar to what Apple's iMessage and FaceTime have offered for years). With the addition of the strong encryption, WhatsApp is now suspected to be the largest messaging service in circulation with end-to-end encryption active.
Company beats projections, monthly users up only 2.2 percent from last quarter
Facebook released its third quarter results for the 2014 fiscal year, announcing that $3.2 billion in revenue was pulled in for the period ending September 30. The company beat Wall Street projections of an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.40 on $3.12 billion in revenue. While Facebook beat the EPS on diluted non-GAAP figures by three cents, the company posted only a $0.30 EPS under GAAP.
Original $19B purchase valuation of WhatsApp increases due to Facebook share price
Facebook has completed its acquisition of messaging service WhatsApp, days after the European Commission gave the all-clear to proceed. The purchase, originally valued at $19 billion when the process began ten months ago, has now concluded with the publication of an SEC filing, with the co-founder and chief executive of WhatsApp gaining a seat on the Facebook board.
Whatsapp, Facebook deemed "not close competitors" by European regulator
European regulators have given the all-clear on the Facebook acquisition of WhatsApp. Four months after Facebook requested the European Commission to review the acquisition over possible antitrust-related issues, the regulator has determined that Facebook and its own Messenger service is not a "close competitor" of WhatsApp, and has authorized the purchase.
Deal said to be unconditional, no conditions likely to be assessed
According to sources familiar with the matter, the European Commission is poised to offer unconditional approval to Facebook's purchase of message service WhatsApp. The official decision is due by the European regulatory agency on October 3, and no official comment of approval has yet been made.
WhatsApp for iOS adds option to archive chats and more
Smartphone messenger app WhatsApp has released a major update of its version for iOS. Using a 3G or WiFi connection, WhatsApp allows users to send messages to other WhatsApp users in lieu of SMS. Featuring a new archival function, users can elect to save chats and groups as archives. WhatsApp v2.11.9 includes several additions specific to photo and video content: users can add captions; trim videos prior to sharing; capture content faster with a new access button;, and slow-motion videos can be shared if using an iPhone 5s.
Questionnaire sent by European Commission gaging impact of merger
The European Commission, the EU's antitrust agency, is seeking input from companies that may be impacted by Facebook's acquisition of messenger developer WhatsApp. The questionnaire is asking if queried companies are foreseeing any business issues with the merger, or if customers will be negatively impacted by the $19 billion deal.
Best Buy discounts LG G Watch price by $50
Best Buy has cut the price of the LG G Watch by $50. One of the first Android Wear smartwatches revealed and released, recently superseded by the G Watch R, has been spotted by Android Police priced at $180 for both the black and white models. Despite the discount, it is likely the G Watch will continue to be sold for some time, most likely as a budget option compared to the round-faced stablemate's estimated $300 price tag.
Questionnaires sent by European Commission ahead of formal Facebook purchase review
Officials in the European Union are allegedly questioning competitors of WhatsApp over the proposed acquisition by Facebook. The European Commission, the competition authority, is said to have sent detailed questionnaires to a number of "major technology and online-messaging firms" about how much of an the impact the $19 billion merger will have on the messaging and social network marketplaces.
Company uses provision in merger law to ask for single review process
Even though Facebook already has approval from the United States Federal Trade Commission for the $16 billion purchase of Whatsapp, the company is looking to get ahead of the game in Europe. Facebook has asked regulators that are part of the European Commission to review the acquisition deal ahead of possible antitrust concerns.
Ban by censors opposed by Iranian government officials
Censors in Iran have moved to ban the WhatsApp messaging service, for being owned by an "American Zionist," according to reports. The reasoning of the ban stems from the acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook for a total of $19 billion earlier this year, with the Jewish background of Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg being at issue.
WhatsApp reaches 500M monthly active users,700M photos shared daily
WhatsApp has hit a milestone of half a billion active users, the messaging service has announced. The 500 million-user figure is 50 million more than it reported in February, when it also announced it was being acquired by Facebook for a total of $19 billion in cash and shares, with the service now seeing 700 million photographs and 100 million videos being shared between users every day.
WhatsApp must continue existing policy of not collecting user data
Social network giant Facebook said earlier today that the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved the multi-billion-dollar acquisition of messaging service WhatsApp. As part of the deal, both companies must adhere to existing user privacy agreements, including a WhatsApp promise made while independent to not collect user personal data for targeted advertising.
Messaging app could offer voice calling in future update
WhatsApp, the messaging client being acquired by Facebook for $19 billion, could soon add voice calling to its features list, according to reportedly leaked screenshots. The images of the apparent VoIP interface comes at the same time as a video surfaces, seemingly demonstrating an updated version of the client for Windows Phone that is claimed to still be in beta.
SD stored backup allows developers, hackers access with permission request
A security consultant has found a way for Android developers and for hackers to access WhatsApp chat logs under a set of circumstances involving SD storage of the chat program's backup database. Developers who need access to large storage on a device or request complete access would be able to see the database once given permission through an app, while a hacker would be able to access the database using malicious software through the same channel.
WhatsApp experiences server problems today
Mobile messaging app WhatsApp has experienced issues with its servers today, days after being purchase by Facebook for $19 billion in a cash-and-stock deal. Users began to report experiencing outages around 11AM PT. WhatsApp acknowledged on Twitter that server issues are to blame, and that attempts were being made to recover service.
WhatsApp to remain independent despite Facebook acquisition
Facebook has announced it will acquire messaging service WhatsApp for $16 billion. The deal, surfacing in an SEC filing, will see Facebook part with $4 billion in cash and $12 billion in shares for the messaging app, though there is an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units for WhatsApp founders and employees that will vest four years after the deal has closed.
Tech in development for six months
The iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and Nokia versions of WhatsApp Messenger will be getting a single-tap voice messaging feature, their developer says. CEO Jan Koum comments that the company has been working on the technology for about six months. Although voice messaging in itself isn't unique, WhatsApp says it hopes to make its implementation simpler than the alternatives.
Major newspaper launches mobile reader app for iPhone
The Boston Globe announced its launch of The Globe iPhone app today. The free app allows users to prioritize the most personally relevant newspaper sections, promoting a more efficient reading experience. Featuring a customizable homepage with an infinite scroll function, users can swipe from section to section of the newspaper, and then scroll through stories of interest. Also incorporated into the app is a smart feed trending section, highlighting most read stories.
Nokia launches cheap Asha 210 aimed at the youth market
Nokia has launched the Asha 210 feature phone with a QWERTY keyboard that also includes a dedicated WhatsApp key with its messaging service included for free on the device. The device is at younger users keen on messaging across platforms on the cheap, while it also comes in a range of bright colors adding further appeal. The Asha 210 is also available in a single-SIM or dual-SIM variant giving users additional flexibility if needed.
Rumor has Google thinking of buying WhatsApp
Popular messaging app WhatsApp is the subject of acquisition rumors yet again, this time with search giant Google said to be considering buying the app for as much as $1 billion. The move is said to be part of a wider push by Google to solidify its standing in the mobile messaging sector, and it could play a role in the development of the company's unified chat service Babble.
Messaging tools could be in violation of Saudi laws
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued orders to its regulatory bodies to ensure that communication tools like Skype and Whatsapp comply with the government's stringent requirements governing Internet communications. The kingdom's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) announced last week that it had "become evident that some communication applications through (the) Internet don't meet regulatory requirements." The regulatory body did not, though, specify which laws certain apps might be violating.
Could hint at plans for Messenger
Facebook is in talks to possibly buy WhatsApp, the developer of a popular namesake messaging app, say TechCrunch sources. It's so far unknown what price Facebook might be offering, or how far into negotiations the companies are. If confirmed, though, the talks would suggest that Facebook plans to dramatically alter its messaging services.
Nokia shows off four Symbian S40 Asha phones
Nokia also revealed four new entry-level handsets at Nokia World. The Asha (derived from Hindi and meaning hope) line includes the Asha 303, Asha 300, Asha 200 and Asha 201. The 303 is the most advanced, getting a 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen, a hardware QWERTY keyboard, and a 1GHz processor.


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» View 14092013 Ke Liye Disawar Haruf Satta No
View 14092013 Ke Liye Disawar Haruf Satta No
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ASUS launched a product that is quite innovative. This product called Transformer AiO is a tablet that can be converted into All-in-One PC.
The tablet will be AiO when paired with the docking hardware separately.
Inside there is a tablet processor NVIDIA [...]
Rumors that Samsung will release the Galaxy S4 Dual-SIM version became a reality.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Sunday (28/4), the South Korean manufacturer officially introduced the Galaxy S4 Duos.
Besides being able to be pinned two SIM Card at once, no more [...]
Sony is believed to introduce a new generation console, the PlayStation 4, at an event to be held on February 20, 2013.
This info comes after Sony released a teaser in the form of video, the Japanese manufacturer indicated there would be a new console [...]
This service there will be in January next year.
Applications in the console Nintendo Wii U will be more complete. After YouTube, now the Wii U scheduled to get other superior service.
When Nintendo Direct presentation Wednesday (12/05), Satoru Iwata [...]
Galaxy Grand has a screen size of 5 inches with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.
Last week, some observers have expressed the tablet Samsung is preparing release tablet product named Galaxy Grand in December.
This is revealed in the report file Samsung [...]
Not only are the latter PS4 started leaking in the virtual world. Candidate key rival, the Xbox 720, recently much talked specifically about the specification.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Thursday (2/7), the successor to the triumph of the Xbox 360 is reportedly [...]
The number of users increased four-fold compared to last year.
Website provider of free and paid storage service, Dropbox, today released an announcement stating that they have recorded a remarkable achievement by achieving 100 million users worldwide.
Although there are many audio applications and media that can be used to play music on your Mac, iTunes is still the most popular choice in the management of musical content.
iTunes offers the ease of controlling the sequence of music, create playlists, [...]
New milestone in historical research.
Rover U.S. space agency (NASA) who was conducting research on the surface of Mars have scooped soil samples on the Red Planet for analysis. Lab science runs that find colored object which experts believed to be man-made [...]
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag will be released on October 29, 2013, is known thanks to leak news video trailer will premiere on March 3, 2013 yesterday.
Ubisoft stated that the game can already be ordered, intended for users of the Xbox 360, PlayStation [...]
Good news for all you lovers of the game The Sims. Electronic Arts officially announced that The Sims 4 ready to be released in 2014.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Tuesday (7/5), EA sure about human life simulation game is being developed for PC and Mac.

domain: news


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Bitcoin today – the Bitcoin price is holding strong over $2400 and showing over 350% growth in value over the past year. Ethereum looking good over $225 – enormous growth in 2017.
Bitcoin Value increases by 350% over the past year!
Ethereum value increases by over 1500% over the past year!
News Headlines and Links
Considering all these predictions regarding the Bitcoin price that are being made, what is your prediction for the price by the end of 2017? Leave your comment below.
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Just a month after showing off an iPhone 5S commercial focused on the family, Apple has revealed yet another high production value video spot, this time emphasizing how the device assists people in their work.
Simple titled "Dreams," the commercial takes us on a visual journey through scenarios in which weather researchers, firemen, a pilot, a jeweler and a painter use the versatile smartphone to do everything from taking environmental readings to pinpointing the location of an emergency.
At one point, the video even shows us a vet placing the smartphone against the belly of a horse to get an electrocardiogram (ECG) reading using the Veterinary AliveECG app.
Similarly, a doctor is shown using the device as a translator with a patient, and later we see environmental researchers using the SAM-1 Smart Aqua Meter app to measure the pH levels in the local water.
This new push to stir up interest in the iPhone 5S so close to what many thought was the launch of the iPhone 6 will likely add fuel to recent rumors of a delay that will see the updated smartphone debut in October instead of September, as previous reports had indicated.


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Apple is celebrating record Q3 profits, although digging into the numbers reveals some troubling trends as the company’s main money drivers continue to shift around.
The headline figure is that Apple managed to rake in a total of $53.8 billion in revenue, which is up from $53.3 billion this time a year ago. As growth goes, that’s pretty anaemic, but it’s still growth and allows the company to accurately call it a new record.
The company’s best seller remains the iPhone, which managed an impressive sounding $25.99 billion worth of revenue – but that’s still down year-on-year, raking in $29.47 billion a year ago.
Related: Best iPhone
That means it’s up to other parts of Apple’s empire to plug the gap, and they ably stepped up to the mark. Macs accounted for $5.8 billion, and iPads $5.02 billion, while the wearables business – Apple Watch, AirPods, Beats and so on – grew by nearly $2 billion on this time last year.
But perhaps the long-term key is Services, which enjoyed a record quarter, hitting $11.46 billion, up from $10.17 billion. Services covers a broad range of things from Apple Music and the App Store to iCloud and Apple Care, and it’s pretty clear that Apple sees this as a big driver of revenue in future.
Related: Best MacBook
And with three new subscription services coming this year – Apple TV+ for video, Apple Arcade for games and Apple News Plus for magazines and newspapers – the services column looks set to continue growing for the foreseeable future, whether or not iPhone sales continue to move backwards.
Are services the way ahead for Apple, or is the iPhone due a resurgence next year? Let us know what you think on Twitter: @TrustedReviews.


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Wearing Their Heart Monitor on Their Sleeves
Mason researcher Vivian Motti joined teams from Dartmouth College and Clemson University to develop a more technologically advanced, wearable mobile health device.
Motti, a professor in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology at the Volgenau School of Engineering, came to Mason from Clemson in January 2016, and brought with her this cutting-edge project that works along the same lines as popular wearable fitness trackers.
Her team has been awarded a two-year grant of $43,677 from the National Science Foundation to create computational jewelry for mobile health with a device they’ve dubbed the Amulet bracelet.
Amulet lets users manage their health and wellness by interacting with other wearable health sensors, constituting what Motti calls a user’s “wireless body-area network.” The Amulet device serves as a “hub,” tracking health information and securely sending data to other health devices or to medical professionals.
Potential applications for the Amulet also include tracking the use of medications, sending reminders when doses are due, and providing critical health data to responders in a medical emergency. At the same time, it protects users’ privacy by enabling them to control what is sensed and stored, where it’s stored, and how it’s shared.
“I see it as a tool to empower users with information. Wearables can really bring technology closer to the user’s life in a nonintrusive, accessible way.”
Building the Amulet prototype from scratch proved tougher than expected, Motti admits. Issues such as telecommunication, networks, the application itself, ergonomics, battery life, and software all had to be resolved inside a device that users would actually want to wear.
“It’s hard to prioritize what to put into the design while still making it comfortable for the user and able to perform the tasks effectively,” Motti says. “That was the most challenging part.”
Motti and her team at the Human-Centric Design Lab focus on making sure the device is both useful and easy to use.
Early prototypes were large, but the team reduced the size of components until they had a thin, lightweight device that sends signals to users through vibrations, and features a graphic interface and carefully positioned buttons. And since it’s worn around-the-clock, they’re making it water resistant, too.
Three prototypes have been created so far, each with a different focus. The first was crafted to aid in smoking cessation. From there, a stress management bracelet was fashioned to monitor anxiety levels. The third is centered on weight loss and includes an activity meter.
Motti’s team expects to have a commercial product available within two years. So far, she says, feedback has been positive, and suggestions are still being used to improve the prototypes.


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Hairdresser Vidal Sassoon has died at his home in Los Angeles, aged 84.
Sassoon, who was born in London and whose scissors spelled the end of the beehive and the bouffant hair styles of the 1950s, earned international fame and fortune with groundbreaking styles. The creator of the “Bob” hairstyle, he is best known for his simple, shaped cuts.
One of his followers was Mary Quant, the famous British fashion designer who popularised the mini-skirt.
“My idea was to cut shape into the hair, to use it like fabric and take away everything that was superfluous,” Sassoon said in 1993 in the Los Angeles Times, which first reported his death Wednesday. “Women were going back to work, they were assuming their own power. They didn’t have time to sit under the dryer anymore.”
Sassoon opened his first salon in his native London in 1954, later expanding to the US.
“Vidal Sassoon was a truly iconic hairdresser and a great friend. He will be sadly missed and it is a sad day for the industry.” Says Nicky Clarke
Vidal Sassoon, CBE – 17 January 1928 – 9 May 2012


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Streaming on The Film Detective 11am EST
Cinedigm, the leading independent streaming company super-serving enthusiast fan bases, announced today that The Film Detective (TFD), the classic film restoration and streaming company, will premiere the original film series, Classic Films for Kids, today.
This program will be hosted by Jennifer Churchill (pictured left). She’s a classic film enthusiast and the author of Movies are Magic, the children’s book dedicated to an engaging and educational look at the history of film. She is joined by co-host, her son Weston, to explore family-friendly programming with Golden Age stars from Abbott and Costello to Shirley Temple.
The first season of Classic Films for Kids will feature full-length, classic films, contextualized with insight and commentary. Initial films include Jack and the Beanstalk (1952), starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello; The Little Princess (1939), starring Shirley Temple; Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928), starring Buster Keaton; and the Fleischer Brothers’ classic animation, Gulliver’s Travels (1939).
New episodes will premiere every Saturday morning at 11 a.m. ET on The Film Detective channel, followed by SVOD releases on TFD’s classic film and television app, beginning with Jack and the Beanstalk on April 2.
“It’s so important to make sure kids know about these films,” said Churchill. “A lot of kids only see modern movies with fast editing, explosions and CGI. It’s really important for them to know the history of film and that these movies exist.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Jennifer to bring new life to these family-friendly classics,” said Phil Hopkins, president of TFD. “Audiences of all ages will enjoy Jennifer and Weston’s love of the classics and learn why teaching new audiences about the history of film is so essential.”
Classic Films for Kids is the latest in a series of collaborations between TFD and Churchill, who’s exclusive audio commentary has been featured recently on such TFD special-edition Blu-ray and DVD releases as Dancing Pirate (1936), The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) and the upcoming Girl on a Chain Gang (1966), being released April 19.
TFD’s classic film and television app is available to stream on web, iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. For more information on TFD, visit www.thefilmdetective.com.
About The Film Detective:
The Film Detective (TFD) is a leading distributor of restored classic programming, including feature films, television, foreign imports and documentaries and is a division of Cinedigm. Launched in 2014, TFD has distributed its extensive library of 3,000+ hours of film on DVD and Blu-ray and through leading broadcast and streaming platforms including TCM, NBC, EPIX, Amazon, MeTV, PBS and more. TFD has released its classic movie app on web, Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV and is available live with a 24/7 channel on Sling, STIRR, Plex, Local Now, Rakuten TV and DistroTV. For more information, visit www.thefilmdetective.com
For more than 20 years, Cinedigm has led the digital transformation of the entertainment industry. Today, Cinedigm entertains hundreds of millions of consumers around the globe by providing premium content, streaming channels and technology services to the world’s largest media, technology and retail companies.


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Borosil Renewables Limited is a glass manufacturer. The company manufactures glassware for industrial, pharmaceutical, and volumetric applications. Borosil Renewables' product line includes bottles, burettes, pipettes, flasks, condensers, ground joints, and extractors. Borosil Renewables Limited is India's first and only manufacturer of solar glass.
Company Mission: TO BE A COMPETITIVE ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES VALUE TO ITS CUSTOMERS, SHAREHOLDERS, AND EMPLOYEES THROUGH CONTINUAL DELIVERY OF HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AT REASONABLE PRICES.
"The fundamentals of Borosil Renewables Limited are extremely strong and the stock is currently trading at a favourable price," Sandeep Jain stated. The company's return on capital employed (ROCE) is 30%. If you look at the profit CAGR of the company over the last three to four years, it has grown at a rate of 28 percent; the company has also grown at a rate of 19-20 percent in terms of sales.
Borosil Renewable solar glass
"Borosil Renewables Limited is a cash-flow positive business. The company's PAT (profit after tax) in March 2020 was 4 crores, but it increased to 67 crores in March 2021. The company is owned by both FIIs and DIIs. The company's stock is trading at a reasonable price. "I'm a big believer in this stock," Jain stated on the show.
Shares of Borosil Company: As the stock market recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of stocks have entered the list of multibagger stocks for 2021. Borosil Renewables is one of the Indian stock market's multibaggers. This multibagger penny stock has soared from 34.95 to 694 per share in approximately 19 months, appreciating nearly 1900% during this time period.
Borosil shares have risen nearly 36% in the last month, from around 510 to 694. This multibagger stock has increased by 166 percent in the last six months, from 260 to 690. Similarly, over the last year, this multibagger penny stock has soared from 170 to 694, a gain of approximately 310 percent.
On 29th May 2020, this multibagger penny stock closed at 34.95 on the NSE, while on 17th December 2021, it closed at 694 on the NSE. Thus, over the last 19 months, the multibagger penny stock has increased by approximately 1900%.
Using the share price history of this multibagger penny stock as a guide, an investor who invested 1 lakh in this counter one month ago would now own 1.36 lakh. If an investor had invested Rs. 1 lakh in this multibagger stock six months ago, his or her initial investment would have grown to Rs. 2.66 lakh today. Similarly, if an investor had invested Rs 1 lakh in this multibagger penny stock a year ago and remained invested throughout, his or her initial investment would have grown to Rs 4.10 lakh today.
A 350 percent rally in a year may not seem like much in the context of the Indian stock market's current wild bull run. However, Borosil Renewables' awe-inspiring performance comes in the face of threats to its monopoly on the Indian solar glass market. For more than a decade, the family-owned business has been the country's sole manufacturer of solar glass.
Similarly, if an investor invested 1 lakh in this multibagger penny stock 19 months ago, purchasing one share at 34.95 levels, the investor's 1 lakh would have grown to 20 lakh today if the investor had remained invested in the counter until today.


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Yesterday the Wall Street Journal published an article outlining a ten-fold increase in crowdfunding-related domain names in the past year. The main takeaway was in how many were determined to need further scrutiny…
In a year-end trawl of the Internet, the association of securities regulators found 9,001 website names containing the word “crowdfund,” according to a spokesman. The total is up more than tenfold from a year earlier. Officials have reviewed about 2,000 of those site names, concluding that about 200 need a closer examination or monitoring, the spokesman said.
So 10% of the web sites examined thus far warranted further monitoring or action. One site owner, Stephen Rea, has already received a warning to explicitly “make it clear on the site that he isn’t selling shares.”
A separate website Mr. Rea set up inviting investors to “Send Yo Money!” claimed to be operating “under” the JOBS Act, while his company’s site solicited “crowdfunding” financing.
I don’t think “Send Yo Money” is what regulators or crowdfunding stakeholders want to see on sites claiming to be participating in the industry.
To date, none of the sites in question have been publicly cited for anything fraudulent.
However, the situation highlights another problem altogether: how do crowdfunding stakeholders control the narrative of crowdfunding when individuals like Mr. Rea can have a “crowdfunding web site” online with $15 and an hour of his time?
This is yet another issue of investor education that the industry will have to tackle head-on.


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TY KU Wins "Best of Show" at World Wines Competition
TY KU Sake Silver—a premium Junmai sake in the TY KU Sake & Spirits portfolio, has won PLATINUM “Best of Show” at the World Wines Competition. TY KU Sake was one of over 10,000 brands to compete in this year’s competition.
World Wines Competition is judged by a panel of industry professionals in a double blind taste test. For more information, please visit: http://beveragecompetition.com/results-wines.


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The New York Shipping Exchange (NYSHEX), founded by a Cambridge MBA alumnus, gets $25 million in new funding led by a firm headed by a Cambridge Judge Master of Finance graduate.
The New York Shipping Exchange (NYSHEX), a digital exchange founded by Cambridge MBA graduate Gordon Downes (MBA 2009), announced a $25 million Series B funding round.
The new funding round, which brings the firm’s total funding to $69 million, was led by Collate Capital, whose Managing Director is Mark Weaver, a Master of Finance graduate of Cambridge Judge (MFin 2009).
Gordon and Mark met at Cambridge Judge, so the new funding round underlines the lasting network effect of the business school.
NYSHEX said that Mark Weaver will now join its board of directors.
Founded in 2015, NYSHEX is a digital exchange used by shippers, freight forwarders and ocean carriers for forward freight contracts – offering an alternative to long-term contracts and the spot market in shipping.
“The additional $25 million investment allows us to accelerate the development of our integrated technology platform, which provides a shared system of record for the industry,” said Gordon Downes, who is now CEO of NYSHEX.
In addition to Collate Capital, the new funding round included Blumberg Capital, Goldman Sachs and NewRoad Capital.
Read “Cambridge Judge Business School alumni link up to help digital shipping exchange NYSHEX cruise ahead with $13 million in new funding”, a previous article on our website about NYSHEX.


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Indian market has witnessed a lot of news and media apps is coming into the limelight in the last 2 years and most of the new internet users are shifting to online content. Online content is cheap due to the advent of Jio and affordable smartphones.
Newsbytes in one such digital news and media platform based in Gurugram. They have raised a huge amount of $1 million. The funding was led by Germany-based MM Inno GmbH, an investment company of Mueller Medien, along with the US-based Powerhouse Ventures and other investors.
It has been analysed earlier that the more users coming into the online content ecosystem the importance of vernacular languages are increasing. The reason is that people trust the information from in their local languages rather than English. This has forced many platforms to acquire local languages for generating content and NewsByte is no different. NewsByte had recently launched a natural language generation based engine. This engine has the capability to convert raw numerical data into text-based articles.
The Indian government, however, is keeping a close eye on the developments in the field of online media and news. They have also proposed for a body governing the functioning, as there is a body for the newspapers and news broadcasters, Press Council of India (PCI). This type of body for the online media will help moderate the contents and reduce the spread of fake news and violent inflicting news in the market.


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SACRAMENTO, CA - A new strain of hyper virulent, deadly Cryptococcus gattii fungus has been discovered in the United States a new study says.
The outbreak has already killed six people in Oregon and it will likely creep into northern California and possibly further, experts say.
In a what appears to be a double tragedy resulting from this strain, a family soup business was cited by the FDA after a California man infected by the new fungus was killed when falling into a vat of boiling water at the family's soup business.
The company was fined for selling mock mushroom soup.
Their business has been shuttered pending further investigation by the State Department of Agriculture.


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Tesla CEO, Elon Musk marked the expansion of Tesla’s presence in China by breaking ground for the company’s new Gigafactory dubbed “Gigafactory 3” in Shanghai on January 7. The Shanghai factory would be Tesla’s first such large-scale facility outside the United States. Musk said that he expected the new factory to start production of cars by the end of the year.
Tesla is setting up “Gigafactory 3” as it needs a local base for the manufacture of Model 3 cars for the Chinese market. Tesla had acquired the 860,000-square-meter site in 2018 for about USD 140 million. It is also planning production of a future Model Y crossover in China to avoid any financial impact from the recent tariff wars between China and the United States. Musk has tweeted that the first stage of construction of the plant would be completed by the second half of 2019 and hence construction is expected to proceed at a much faster pace than is typical for new auto-assembly plants.
Speaking at the function, Musk said that the plan is to finish the initial construction in the summer of 2019, to start Model 3 production by the end of the year and to reach high volume production by 2020. He said that the cars produced at the Shanghai plant will cater to the needs of the greater China region and they are being made in China to make them more affordable for end users.
Tesla had finalized an agreement with Shanghai government officials in July 2018 regarding its plans for a factory that will have the capacity to make up to 500,000 vehicles a year. It is estimated that it will cost at least USD 2 billion to build the plant. China is now the biggest market in the world for both conventional vehicles and EVs and this surge in demand has been fueled by government policies which aim to promote consumer purchases of less-polluting cars and trucks. If Tesla is able to sell its vehicles at affordable prices, Tesla’s production in China could potentially be as much as that at its US facility.
Generally, in the auto industry, it takes about two years for a plant to become fully operational after construction begins. Tesla said that it can expedite the construction of Gigafactory 3 from the learnings it acquired from ramping up Model 3 production in 2018. Musk’s initial plan to heavily automate the production of the car ran into numerous setbacks, and Tesla struggled throughout 2018 to consistently build about 5,000 units of the car on a weekly basis, before finally achieving this goal in the fourth quarter.
Tesla expects the first shipments of its Model 3s to arrive in China by March, and some orders that have been placed earlier might even be delivered in February. However, heavy import tariffs on goods from the United States mean that even the most basic Model 3 in China will have a retail price of USD 70,000, which is very steep when compared to its base price of USD 44,000 in the United States.
Initially, the factory in Shanghai is expected to make 3,000 Model 3s on a weekly basis, according to a statement that Tesla issued. Once the plant reaches its full capacity, it will have the capability to make 500,000 units on an annual basis, thus matching the production target of Tesla’s main plant in Fremont, California. Taken together, both the plants will give Tesla 1 million units of global output volume. Last year, Tesla had made a little less than 250,000 units in 2018. Tesla is still refining the operations at the Fremont factory and at its battery Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada for optimal production.
Eminent dignitaries like Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong, Shanghai government officials, representatives from China’s National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology joined Elon Musk at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new plant.
Musk said in a statement that China is emerging as a global leader when it comes to the adoption of electric vehicles and will play a key role in Tesla’s drive to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
Kia Niro Named Supreme Winner of the Women’s World Car of the Year
Nissan unveils new approach to electrified powertrain development
BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet arrives in the Middle East.
AKEBONO RELEASES PROACT ULTRA-PREMIUM DISC BRAKE PAD KITS FOR HONDA, FORD, LINCOLN AND TOYOTA INCREASING COVERAGE BY OVER 5 MILLION VEHICLES
Hyundai 2023 IONIQ 6 SE Long Range RWD Achieves an exceptional EPA-Estimated Driving Range
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December 8th, 2020
Nicole Kidman Joins Sera Labs as
a Strategic Partner and Global Brand Ambassador
Sera Labs announced that Nicole Kidman will become a major contributor to the success of
Seratopical and Sera Labs topical problem solution products. The whole team at Sera Labs is extremely excited to have Nicole join in our mission to offer the most innovative cutting edge solution based facial and body topical products.
Together we are Creating a Skincare Wellness Revolution
The company is currently collaborating with several retail merchants and Nicole to bolster visibility at store level while rolling out an aggressive National marketing & advertising campaign across multiple channels.
2021 will be a GREAT year for Seratopical and Sera Labs products!
Nicole truly has aligned herself with the company’s mission to bring to market results-oriented products that capitalize on not just CBD but moreover the unique blended formulations that build on the company’s years of experience in topical products. She will be a strategic part of the development team and help to guide and consult on new product innovations at store level.
Seratopical Skin Wellness products and Sera Labs external pain products are currently sold throughout the U.S. across multiple channels of trade including some of the largest Drug and Grocery retailers in the world.
“The partnership with SeraLabs was an easy decision for me,” states Kidman, SeraLabs Strategic Partner and Global Brand Ambassador. “With my injury last year, I experienced the benefit of CBD wellness products firsthand. I believe these products are a vital solution in health and wellnessand SeraLabs is a company I believe in. Joining them in this partnership is something I am very excited about!”
We hope you will reach out and partner with us for success. ** Retailer Tagging available.
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING IN THE PRESS?
October 1st, 2020
SeraLabs Acquired by CURE Pharmaceuticals
CURE Pharmaceutical Completes $20 Million Acquisition of Sera Labs, a Leading Health, Wellness and Beauty Brand Marketing and Multi-Channel Distribution Platform Company
– Acquisition to Support Cash Flow Positive Goal in ~18 Months –
CURE Pharmaceutical Holdings (OTC: CURR) today announced its definitive agreement to acquire Sera Labs, Inc. The closing is anticipated to occur in early October.
As previously announced, the transaction consists of an up-front payment of $20 million, of which $1 million was paid in cash and $19 million has been allocated in CURE stock at a valuation of $2.75 per share. The transaction also includes an initial, additional commitment of $4 million for working capital in support of accelerating Sera Labs’ growth, and earn out incentives of up to an additional $20 million in CURE stock at a valuation of $3.34 per share within two years. The structure of the earn out balances the risk and reward between CURE stockholders and Sera Labs’ management. It also aligns Sera Lab’s high-margin, retail and direct-to-consumer business platform with CURE’s cGMP manufacturing of differentiated dosage forms for superior delivery of actives, that includes nutraceutical, health & wellness, and pharmaceutical products delivered via CURE’s oral dissolvable thin film technology.
“Our acquisition of Sera Labs has been validated over the last few months as we have seen a strong cultural fit and expanded opportunities including a pivot to tele-wellness through which we will deliver to consumers science-based products that meet their personalized wellness objectives,” said Rob Davidson, CURE Pharmaceutical CEO. “Consumers will soon have access to CURE’s proprietary formulations under the Sera Labs brand in the coming weeks. We believe the rest of 2020 will set the stage to make 2021 a breakout year for the Sera Labs wellness business as well as for CURE Pharmaceutical.”
Jonathan Berlent, Chief Business Officer, added, “It is clear that Sera Labs brings to CURE the best platform to effectively deliver our innovative products and dosage forms to the market. With Sera Labs’ expertise in brand marketing and multi-channel distribution platform, we can now give consumers greater access to the dosage forms and drug delivery technologies they seek. The next step is to educate the consumer and deliver on consumer preference for direct access to science based therapeutics.”
Nancy Duitch, founder and CEO of Sera Labs, who will continue as the CEO of Sera Labs, as well as assuming the additional role as Chief Strategic Officer of CURE’s Wellness Division, stated, “Since founding Sera Labs, we have fast become a standout leader in the CBD beauty and health & wellness industries. Before forming Sera Labs, our team drove billions of dollars in sales for well-recognized brands. Today, this same team has reached another milestone by joining with CURE. With the consummation of the transaction, the Sera Labs’ team is excited to introduce consumers to CURE’s innovative delivery system, which we believe will change the way they take daily nutraceuticals. With the combined strength of Sera Labs in the categories of health, wellness and beauty and with CURE Pharmaceutical’s cutting edge technology, we have a unique opportunity to become the leading brand known for excellence, innovation and differentiation.”


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By Peter Fuleky
Social distancing is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, to reduce the chance of overwhelming the healthcare system, and to save lives. But social distancing has significant economic impacts, hitting dine-in eateries disproportionately hard. Restaurant reservations in Honolulu had already started dwindling before the ban on dining at restaurants and bars went into effect Friday. As the figure illustrates, dine-in activity at restaurants in Honolulu on the OpenTable network has declined from typical levels to essentially zero in three weeks. Thousands of jobs will be lost as a result.
Food services are more labor intensive than most other industries. According to the most recent data on occupational employment, in 2018 more than 85,000 people in Hawaii (or 13% of all employees in the state) held food service related jobs. Restaurants cater to both visitors and residents, but due to the state’s large tourism presence, food services occupations in Hawaii are nearly one-and-a-half times more prevalent than for the nation as a whole.
The dine-in ban will not affect all employees equally. Of the total food services occupations, fewer than half were cooks or otherwise directly responsible for food preparation. A number of these jobs may be spared as some restaurants continue to cater to take-out orders. But shifting to take-out will eliminate the need for wait staff serving seated guests. And many restaurants will likely cease operations altogether.
With the median annual income in the industry at about $30,000, food service employees likely have limited savings and are not prepared to handle a system-wide shock to the visitor and local dining markets. To mitigate financial distress due to temporary job losses, the federal government is considering a rescue package that would include sending checks to individuals. While this will be an important support in the near term, many job losses in Hawaii’s food service industry could last months to a couple of years. Short-term income supplements will not go very far in addressing this longer-term problem.
UHERO BLOGS ARE CIRCULATED TO STIMULATE DISCUSSION AND CRITICAL COMMENT. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS.
5 thoughts on “The Agony of Restaurant Workers”
What we should do is to make concerted effort to order take-outs from our/your favorite restaurant(s). This may not save all the jobs in that restaurant. But if the restaurant survives, it would be able to quickly rehire those who were laid off when the situation improves. And leave a 20% tip instead of an incidental one.
Thank you for this relevant and timely analysis.
Do you happen to know how representative the OpenTable data to HI? When I saw their dataset, I didn’t doubt the trend but I don’t see it nearly as often here as in the mainland, so wasn’t sure how representative it’d be.
On a totally different note, is it possible for states/counties to offer huge fiscal assistance to provide SMEs with payroll subsidies? I recognize the public choice and other political restraints/shenanigans that could accompany this but I wonder if it’s even feasible.
Laron, thank you for your interest in this analysis. According to OpenTable, there are more than 1200 Hawaii restaurants listed on the website (see also https://www.opentable.com/hawaii-restaurants).
The CARES Act passed by the US Congress contains several provisions to help small businesses survive the recession. States and counties are facing a dire fiscal landscape ahead, so this federal relief package is undoubtedly welcome at the local level.
Thank you for sharing


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Samsung Rides Smartphones, Home Appliances Sale to Post 46.3 Percent Jump
South Korean tech goliath Samsung Gadgets posted a 46.3 percent ascend in first-quarter net benefits on Thursday, generally determined by hearty deals of its cell phones and home apparatuses because of proceeded with stay-at-home interest.
The firm is the leader auxiliary of the goliath Samsung bunch, by a long shot the biggest of the family-controlled domains known as chaebols that overwhelm business in South Korea, the world’s twelfth biggest economy.
The combination is critical toward the South’s monetary wellbeing – its general turnover is comparable to a fifth of the public GDP.
Samsung Gadgets said net benefits rose 46.3 percent in January to Spring from a year sooner to KRW 7.1 trillion (generally Rs. 47,460 crores).
“Strong deals of cell phones and buyer gadgets exceeded lower income from semiconductors and showcases,” the firm said in a profit report.
The figures came a day after Samsung’s controlling Lee family declared designs to pay more than $10 billion (generally Rs. 74,100 crores) in legacy charges following the demise a year ago of executive Lee Kun-hee – one of the world’s greatest ever such settlements – and give an immense store of workmanship including works by Picasso and Monet.
The Covid has unleashed ruin with the world economy, with lockdowns and travel boycotts forced all throughout the planet for a long time.
In any case, the pandemic – which has slaughtered in excess of 2,000,000 individuals around the world – has likewise seen numerous tech organizations blast, including Samsung.
Covid driven telecommuting has been boosting interest for gadgets fueled by Samsung’s chips, just as home apparatuses like television and clothes washers.
also read:Realme Cancels May 4 Launch Event, Anniversary Celebrations Due to COVID-19 Crisis in India
“Repressed interest has driven the development in home machines,” said James Kang, a senior analyst at Euromonitor Worldwide.
“Be that as it may, once the Covid circumstance improves with the dissemination of immunizations, the development of home apparatuses will be more slow than 2020 as individuals invest more energy outside,” he added.
Working benefit rose 45.4 percent to KRW 9.4 trillion (generally Rs. 62,860 crores), while deals were up 18.2 percent to KRW 65.4 trillion (generally Rs. 4,37,335 crores)
Examiners say the organization has delighted in a specific lift from carrying out its World S21 arrangement in January, over a month in front of the lead item’s standard yearly dispatch plan.
“Samsung stays the biggest merchant delivering 77 million cell phones worldwide in the principal quarter, growing 32% year-on-year,” said Neil Mawston, chief at Technique Investigation.
“Samsung’s recently dispatched more reasonable An arrangement 4G and 5G telephones, and the previous dispatched World S21 arrangement joined drove strong execution in the quarter.”
Be that as it may, this development might be hampered in the second quarter even with a worldwide chip deficiency emergency and a decrease in market interest because of the pandemic, said Jene Park, an analyst at Contrast Exploration.
“On account of Samsung, its principle parts are being obtained in-house, hence its creation is relied upon to be generally smooth contrasted with different organizations,” Park told AFP.
“Notwithstanding, Samsung’s Q2 income will be unfavorably influenced by the fallout of Coronavirus in its significant business sectors, like India,” he added.
The worldwide chip fabricating industry had been hoping to see record income this year, with the stay-at-home economy continuing, as per Taipei-based market tracker TrendForce.
However, blackouts across Texas in the US – brought about by an extreme winter storm – shut down semiconductor plants bunched around Austin in February, including Samsung’s.
“The creation line in Austin has been completely standardized in the subsequent quarter,” Samsung said, with the South’s Yonhap news organization revealed the organization may endure around KRW 400 billion (generally Rs. 2,680 crores) because of the plant’s month-long closure.
The association’s accepted chief Lee Jae-yong, the child of the late executive, was imprisoned in January over a rambling defilement outrage that cut down previous president Park Geun-hye.
He is additionally going through a different preliminary over charges including stock control for a smooth progression of force.
Specialists say an authority vacuum could hamper the association’s dynamic for future enormous scope speculations, which have been critical to its ascent.
Recently five significant South Korean business bunches engaged the official Blue House for an exoneration for him on public monetary grounds.
Samsung Gadgets shares were down 0.24 percent in early exchange Seoul.


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When the iPad was finally revealed in 2010, it took time for the market to know how to categorize the device; everyone settled on simply creating a new category.
One year on, the lead that Apple has is a replay of its iPod-iPhone momentum, but Google’s Android caught up quickly. This year will be a truly fascinating one of winners and losers. Not interested? You should be. Media tablets have re-written the rules.
iPad. You can do everything you want on one really. If you’re a high-end originator of Photoshop masterpieces or an individual with particularly fat fingers, you might not be so convinced, but if you try one for a reasonable period of time you’ll start to get frustrated with the boot-up time of your old laptop, the lack of software apps to enhance your entertainment or productivity and the whole battery-cable-charger-airport-connectivity thing.
Give the human race 20 years and the laptops we all lug around will seem as ancient as the clay tablets the Assyrians used to record cuneiform lists of goats, gold and slaves. We’re witnessing the next evolution of computing and something on par with the mouse and graphical user interface computing milestones of the 1970s.
Tablets are more in tune with the way we all consume and interact with data. Are you a reviewer or an originator? If you think about how you shuffle emails and comments up and down the food chain from the comfort of your queue at Starbucks, you’ll recognize that we have become much more accepting of the cloud and computing convenience. Remember when people used to print out and file emails for their records?
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Media Tablet and eReader Tracker, vendors shipped 4.8 million units globally in the third quarter of 2010, compared to 3.3 million units in the second quarter. Apple’s iPad represented nearly 90 percent of the media tablets shipped worldwide in 3Q10.
“The media tablet market’s rapid evolution will continue to accelerate … with new product and service introductions, channel expansion, price competition and experimentation with new use cases among consumers and enterprises,” said IDC’s Susan Kevorkian, research director, mobile connected devices.
So what about your eReader Kindle: Does it factor in to this multi-million-user revolution? Well, no. According to IDC, media tablets are tablet-form-factor devices with color displays larger than five inches and smaller than 14 inches running lightweight operating systems (such as Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android OS) and based on either x86 or ARM processors.
By contrast, tablet PCs (think full Windows) run full PC operating systems and are based on x86 processors. Media tablets support multiple connectivity technologies and a broad range of applications, which differentiates them from single purpose-focused devices such as eReaders. That’s where your Kindle comes in (if you still have one).
So, keeping a focus on the media tablet market, the train has well and truly left the station and there are many vendors looking to stoke up to catch the next train. Google’s Android operating system for smartphones when deployed on a tablet was a pretty desperate grab at the handrail of the last carriage on the Apple express. Samsung’s initial Galaxy Tab was pulled from U.K. market after a high level of returns, while Toshiba’s Folio device was withdrawn completely. Neither offering was as intuitive and popular as Apple’s iOS.
Google’s new Android operating system for tablets, codenamed Honeycomb, is the next wave of development. Motorola is expected to release a media tablet running on Honeycomb called the Xoom, while Research in Motion (RIM) will start marketing is its BlackBerry PlayBook slate. Hewlett-Packard will concentrate its efforts on a device that runs its own WebOS operating system. Good luck with that one, HP.
Apple has more than 350,000 apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, while 60,000 apps are specifically designed for the iPad. Android has approximately 130,000 apps, most of them having been designed for smartphones, great for Android’s Nokia-killing handset manufacturers, not so good for media tablets. Google will have to encourage developers to create apps for the new Honeycomb OS, as will RIM.
RIM announced that it plans to introduce in-app purchases, which is smart; this gives developers the ability to up-sell enhancements and smaller upgrades between major version releases, which helps to sustain churn revenues. “It will be a smaller ecosystem of players led by Android and Apple in the near term,”Allen Nogee, mobile analyst at In-Stat, commented recently in the Financial Times. RIM’s Blackberry is currently the U.K.’s most popular smartphone for business users, so they know what they’re doing.
An interesting development of these market shifts is the channel. Apple sells direct and has direct relationships with customers via its online and high-street stores. Other players will have to navigate the support and manage the challenges of working with third parties – resellers, retailers and developers. Yet again, Apple appears to have got it right. It has never cracked the corporate market, however, although with its ownership of its own chipset, hardware, software, OS and digital content, this could be the company’s chance to really take its share of the corporate marketplace from the old guard of laptop manufacturers such as Lenovo, Toshiba and HP.
Looking forward, IDC forecasts 44.6 million media tablets will ship in 2011, with the U.S. representing nearly 40 percent of the total. In 2012, IDC forecasts worldwide shipments of 70.8 million units. Growth in 2011 and beyond will be driven by device vendors introducing media tablets based on Android and other operating systems, as well as price and feature competition and strong demand in both the consumer and commercial segments.
For the e-reader market, IDC anticipates 2010 to close at 10.8 million units shipped worldwide, with the U.S. representing 72.4 percent of global shipments. IDC forecasts 14.7 million units to ship in 2011 and 16.6 million in 2012.
What does this mean for us all? It means that computing has changed in the space of a year – the desktop, the laptop and the smartphone have become integrated. This is a great time to build new applications and revenue. It’s also time for corporations to start planning IT strategies around mobile devices for the whole shooting match – security, AV, application version control, licensing, HR, surf control, proprietary app conversion and so forth.
The market will change before our eyes this year and next. Ignoring these developments is not a great idea.
This is the first contribution by Phil Newman, a London-based marketing and commercialization strategist for technology companies.


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While Tuesday's blockbuster $4.05 billion sale of LucasFilm to Disney may have answered some questions for the film franchise—yes, there will be Episodes VII through IX—it left the Star Wars publishing licenses in doubt, in particular Dark Horse's comics program. Dark Horse has been publishing Star Wars comics in the "Expanded Universe" story lines for over 20 years, but Disney could take back the license and assign it to its own Marvel Comics division, which would result in a big gap in Dark Horse's output.
According to Diamond's most recent sales figures and last year's BookScan numbers, Star Wars-related comics make up approximately 20% of Dark Horse's line, including both comics periodicals and graphic novels. Dark Horse's books have covered both the pre-trilogy era in Knights of the Old Republic and the pre-trilogy time line established by bestselling authors such as Timothy Zahn and Brian Anderson.
Following the announcement of the Disney/LucasFilm deal, Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson released a statement. "Dark Horse and LucasFilm have a strong partnership which spans over 20 years and has produced multiple characters and story lines which are now part of the Star Wars lore," Richardson said. "Star Wars will be with us for the near future. Obviously, this deal changes the landscape, so we'll all have to see what it means for the future."
A precedent for Disney taking back the license goes back to 2009's purchase of Marvel, when Disney did not renew Boom! Studios license for kids comics based on various Disney properties including Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. However, Marvel didn't pick up those licenses either—most have been handled in-house via Disney's own worldwide magazine publishing arm.
While losing the license would have an impact on Dark Horse, it isn't clear that it's inevitable, either. LucasFilm will operate as its own Disney division, led by Kathleen Kennedy, and the company is known to stick with loyal licensors. Indeed, an eagerly awaited new comics series called simply Star Wars will launch in January, written by fan favorite Brian Wood.
LucasFilm's other publishing licenses include a longstanding deal for novels with DelRey and many other projects with publishers from Scholastic to Chronicle. In what is perhaps a preview of how Disney's industry-leading licensed publishing program might treat the Star Wars universe, LucasFilm recently began approving such quirky "official" spinoffs as Jeffrey Brown's bestselling Darth Vader and Son, which is already in its fifth printing. The Star Wars universe is definitely expanding.


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Football Manager boss refutes PlayStation criticism of Xbox Game Pass
The head of Football Manager maker Sports Interactive, Miles Jacobson, has defended Xbox Game Pass.
Speaking to Eurogamer, the industry vet said that his company had had a positive experience with Microsoft’s subscription service. This comes in the wake of PlayStation boss Jim Ryan criticising the offering as being “value destructive” to video games.
“Every studio is going to have different opinions on this and different studios will have different data, because different games work well in different situations,” Jacobson said.
“For us, it’s nothing but positive on all three platforms.”
He continued: “The simple fact is Game Pass and Apple Arcade have brought new people to the franchise that never played it before. I’m confident enough in our games to believe we will now have those consumers for a long time, whatever platforms we’re on. Fiscally, it makes sense. Creatively, it makes sense.
“Learnings-wise, it makes sense as well,” he explained. “We were looking at games as a service… Game Pass and Apple Arcade are games as a service platforms that we’re in. So you’re learning a lot more about that audience as well as you’re going along. And there’s no way we would have reached five million players on FM23 without the audiences on those platforms – with PlayStation being an added bonus on top, because we’ve done much better on PlayStation than we were expecting.”
Jacobson concluded: “Every studio has to make decisions themselves, but I don’t recognise some of the quotes that I see from other studios, and depositions. I don’t recognise that in our business. It’s all very sunny for us.”


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The only real problem in retail is what to do next! We’ve all been through a lot in the last few years, and whilst 2022 promises to be more predictable, we all know that retail has changed forever. Today, retailers need to double down on their competitive advantage to succeed in this new normal.
Today’s new normal see people returning to stores but with a newfound love of online; established retailers are fighting back and have embraced digital, our data-enriched customers are changing their behaviours and expectations at lightning speed, and Boardrooms are looking for us to lap last year’s eCom sales boom.
2021 was all about digital transformation, 2022 focused on differentiation and how we succeed in this new normal.


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LOCAL BUSINESS; ; Atlanta gets first and last major trade show of 2020
Atlanta Market still draws thousands but only a fifth of show's usual attendance.
Atlanta's once mighty convention and trade show industry has been shredded by the pandemic. But it's getting a glimmer of what once was.
And a hint of what might be. Delayed by the pandemic and limited by economic concerns, the Atlanta Market trade show finishes a six-day run downtown today, with just one fifth of its normal 50,000 attendance.
The wholesale home decor and gift event is the only ma...


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Couple of will dispute the significance of a company remaining current with market development. Actually, no analytical business tool can question the need for monitoring business trends along with other relevant information. The web could be a valuable tool to keep current, and online to obtain the latest marketing news can broadly be split into three different groups, each using its own advantages and disadvantages.
Probably the most apparent method of getting marketing news is by using a web-based internet search engine to look for relevant news articles and press announcements. While using the a internet search engine is free of charge, it can be time intensive, needing using several ones to locate relevant information, and may therefore be not practical to have an organisation to complete on a day-to-day basis. Also, webpages that contain the best information might not appear at the start of search engine results, either since the internet search engine deems the recognition of other less relevant pages ensures they should appear first, or since the relevant website hasn’t optimised its site for search engines like google.
A company may therefore choose to use media monitoring companies to give them relevant marketing news. Media monitoring companies, because the name suggests, constantly monitors news for his or her clients through many forms of media. Typically it has been made by browsing newspapers and journals and hearing radio stations, eliminating print articles and delivering these to the customer.
However, because the turn from the millennium, more media is becoming available on the web, and numerous companies concentrate on monitoring media that’s digitally shipped. Many of these can offer clients with regular reviews by what has been stated regarding their companies, in addition to their competitors and industry trends, all course, with respect to the client’s needs. While this is an excellent method of getting information, media monitoring companies charge for his or her services and might not be financially achievable for those organisations.
An agreement would be to look for a relevant site specialising in marketing news. These may offer relevant press announcements and articles in addition to industry reviews. A few of the information, like press announcements and articles, are usually available free of charge, while industry reviews might be available for a small fee. The very best marketing news website to have an organisation is dependent around the organisation’s industry and the caliber of the data available online. Indeed, utilizing a internet search engine to obtain the appropriate marketing news site could be time better spent than utilizing it to search for news articles themselves.


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The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has been adjudged the Public Sector Company of the Year Sector” at the 5th Ghana Business Awards (GBA) held on 28th October 2022 at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra
The Authority emerged as one of 80 companies and individuals recognized for their varied roles in supporting Ghana’s economic growth through various industries.
The Authority under the year of review recorded significant achievements which include undertaking seminars and workshops which contributed to a reduction in the payment of demurrage by importers from 27 million dollars in 2019 to 19 million dollars in 2021.
Importers were also sensitized on how to navigate the global shortage of containers as well as the importance of buying insurance locally.
In-depth presentations were made to businesses, especially entrepreneurs on how to position themselves to benefit from the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). While exporters were exposed to ways they can avert challenges faced by the Bank of Ghana Letter of Commitment. The Authority continued its quest to sensitize shippers on International Commercial Terms (INCOTERMS 2020) as well.
These achievements among others are geared towards reducing the cost of doing business at the port while protecting and promoting the interest of shippers.
The GBA which is organised by Globe Productions aims to promote business excellence locally and internationally.
The Awards provide a platform to recognize individuals and companies that play significant roles in the growth and development of their business sector while recognizing the key functions within the sector that promote growth and sustainability.


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A thought-provoking trio of penguins looks down on Microsoft's Linux lab.
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
More of the Linux lab setup at Microsoft's Redmond, Wash., campus.
This is one place on the Microsoft campus where it's OK to put penguins on your shelf.
16 Cortana shortcuts, secrets, and power tips
In Memoriam: All the consumer products Microsoft has killed off
What's new in Windows 10 version 1803, the Spring Creators Update
Top Android apps for productivity: Get more done with your Android phone or tablet


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MyBroadband has received numerous complaints about MTN billing problems, ranging from double billing to very high data bills. This is nothing new, with many complaints related to MTN billing showing up online over the last few months.
MTN however says that following the upgrade of the billing system, it can “safely say it is no longer experiencing billing duplication errors”.
“However, a few clients were affected by specific issues typical of billing in the industry. MTN has a dedicated team that investigates each query or complaint on a case-by-case basis to ensure that we continually treat our loyal subscribers with care and respect,” said Eddie Moyce, MTN SA, Executive, Customer Relations.
MTN added that it is aware of a specific billing error that occurred in April relating to pro rata fees that were incorrectly calculated and impacted 3000 of their customers. “MTN is currently in the process of resolving this issue and is passing credits to the affected customers where necessary,” the company said.
“There is no need for our customers to do anything as credits are passed automatically and will reflect on their next statement. We further believe that there may be a misunderstanding in terms of our data charges; MTN bills according to the volumes it receives from the call data records, and the calculation of the cost is standard based on the customer’s price plan.”
“This process is verified on numerous occasions during the billing process. Furthermore, On itemised billing, we have a very small number of customers that question the cost but we deal with this timeously by explaining the rating that has been applied,” said Moyce.
MTN billing problems << comments and views


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May 8, 2002 |
BANGALORE: Bank Muscat, Oman's largest bank, would soon float an Indian subsidiary, and also has plans to come out with a debit card besides setting up a call centre in the country, senior bank officials said on Tuesday. Bank Muscat's chief executive, India, Samit Ghosh, told reporters here that with the recent Union Budget allowing foreign banks to incorporate locally, his bank was awaiting detailed RBI guidelines in this regard, which was expected to come in the next two months.
July 14, 2003 |
NEW DELHI: The Canada-based International Air Transport Association (IATA) is setting up a wholly-owned subsidiary in India to promote air transport related facilities, products and services. The non-government organisation, which has till now been operating through a representative office in India, intends to initially undertake certain logistics support activities in the form of software development and data processing services in India. The firm has sought the foreign investment promotion board...
May 5, 2006 |
NEW DELHI: Elven Technologies Pvt Ltd, in which software company Aftek Infosys Ltd has a stake, has acquired hundred per cent stake in the Indian operations of US based Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC). AMCC is a NASDAQ listed company and its Indian operations is headquartered in Bangalore. "Elven Technologies Pvt Ltd, in which the company has a stake, has acquired hundred per cent stake in the Indian operations, of the US based Applied Micro Circuits...
May 29, 2003 |
MUMBAI: Integrated self-service delivery systems and services company Diebold has acquired the remaining 50 per cent equity in its Indian joint venture firm, Diebold HMA Pvt Ltd. "The joint venture firm, headquartered in Chennai, has now become a 100 per cent subsidiary of the company," Diebold said in a release here on Thursday. Diebold HMA's name would be changed "shortly" to reflect the parent company's 100 per cent ownership, it said. Diebold HMA is one of the largest ATM...
July 18, 2002 |
MUMBAI: Carrier Corporation's holding in Carrier Aircon has crossed 90 per cent following a good response to its open offer made to acquire 13.71 per cent stake at Rs 100 per share. The offer, which closed on July 16 was made alongwith persons acting in concert, generated response from over 3,000 shareholders, company release said here on Thursday. Carrier Aircon would delist from the domestic exchanges, after complying with necessary Securities and Exchange Board of India...


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Yamaha Motor Pakistan has increased its prices by 5 to 6000 rupees due to recent depreciation in Pakistani currency and poor market conditions due to Covid 19. This news was brought to us by Express Tribune a day before yesterday.
Express Tribune interviewed the Chairman of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers association Mr Sabir Sheikh and he said that This price hike is because of recent devaluation on Pak rupee, it has jumped to 168 from 154 and because of Covid 19 Yamaha is only working with 25 % of employees, This increases the production cost and makes it expensive.Yamaha is working with strict SOP’s in these conditions. Mr Sabir Sheikh also added that Yamaha Motorcycles consist of imported parts and that is the reason the price hike was inevitable.
The New Yamaha prices are
(These prices are applicable from 1st of JULY 2020)
Its not only Yamaha but almost every company is disturbed due to this Covid 19 situation, even though the lockdown is flexible for 5 days a week but the business activities are yet to be resumed properly. Many other chinese firms have also increased their prices by 2000 rupees on different motorcycles. We yet have to hear from Honda and Suzuki about their new prices.However no official notification has been issued by Yamaha yet in this regard.
Lets hope the situation gets better and things start prospering for us motorcycle enthusiasts in Pakistan, Otherwise buying a motorcycle is turning into luxury.


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Professional shoppers give us tips for surviving the craziest shopping day of the year.
Online retailers Amazon.com, Ebay.com and others are preparing for major Cyber Monday discounts.
Black Friday stores were hopping as crowds of shoppers hunted down bargains across Manhattan.
Small Business Saturday is rolling into town this weekend, with deals at mom-and-pop shops city-wide.
A Black Friday crowd broke into the Hollister store in SoHo early Friday morning, police said.
Apple fans said they were disappointed the new Grand Central store hadn't opened Friday morning.
Black Friday deals started early for this year's must-have items, from flat-screen TVs to diamonds.
Online retailers are hoping to boost their bottom line by offering deals and discounts to customers on Cyber Monday.
SoHo and Greenwich Village Shops were disappointed by the city-approved "Small Business Saturday" promotion.
Most merchants said they hadn't heard of Small Business Saturday, a campaign meant to boost their bottom lines.
Bag counters at "strategic locations" on 34th street saw Black Friday sales go up at two stores but fall at a third.
Several retailers are providing online deals starting Thanksgiving Day, giving shoppers an earlier start than usual.
In advance of the busiest shopping day of the year, retailers are reaching out to customers through Facebook and Twitter.
The move is an attempt to boost sales at locally-owned small business this holiday season.
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Named after the organization’s most unmistakable organizer, the Maserati Alfieri blew some people’s minds when its idea was uncovered at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
Generation started in 2016, and the primary autos will b discharged available to be purchased in the 2018 model year.
This 2+2 car has strong bends and draws vigorously from the A6GCS that Pininfarina intended for Maserati in the mid 1950s. It will come outfitted with a six pace programmed transmission and 4.7 liter V8 motor.
The business cost of the Maserati Alfieri will begin at $100,000.


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To support GLAAD‘s current anti-bullying campaign, Kellogg’s has released a new inclusion breakfast option featuring six of its cereals and mascots dubbed “All Together.”
The new concoction includes Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, and Frosted Mini Wheats packaged in the same purple box. “We all belong together,” Kellogg’s said in a statement. “So for the first time in history, our famous mascots and cereals are offered exclusively together in the same box for All Together Cereal. It’s a symbol of acceptance no matter how you look, where you’re from or who you love.”
Kellogg’s All Together cereal will be available for a limited time in honor of Spirit Day, an anti-bullying campaign that has millions of people wearing purple to stand up against bullying. Along with producing the special cereal, Kellogg’s has also pledged to donate $50,000 USD to GLAAD in support of the group’s efforts.
GLAAD is an LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization. According to GLADD, more than 70% of LGBTQ+ students say they’ve been verbally harassed and close to 60% report feeling unsafe at their schools due to their sexual orientation.
Interested fans can head over to Kelloggstore.com to purchase a box of All Together now for $19.99 USD, while supplies last.


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July 26, 2011
Mexican Papayas Recalled Amid Salmonella Outbreak
Agromod Produce Inc. said it is voluntarily recalling papayas imported from Mexico due to possible salmonella contamination.
The McAllen, Texas-based company said its Blondie, Yaya, Mananita and Tastylicious brand papayas sold prior to July 23 could be linked to a salmonella outbreak that resulted in 97 reported cases of illness, including 10 hospitalizations, in 23 states.Texas and Illinois saw the most reported cases, which particularly affected children less than 5 years old and women, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.
FDA said it is working with Agromod and with officials in Mexico to determine how the fruit became contaminated.
Agromod announced its papaya recall on Saturday, saying the fruit was distributed across the United States and to Canada.
A salmonella infection typically causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within the first few days after eating a contaminated food product. It is the most common foodborne illness in the United States, and is most often linked to contaminated meats, produce and processed foods. Last year, salmonella infections caused some 2,300 hospitalizations and 29 deaths.
On the Net:


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Global consulting firm A.T. Kearney estimates consumer spending will grow to $40 trillion by 2020 including an increase in spending on durable goods and personal care items. Despite its size and number of products that can be had achieved through biological means, the consumer market has experienced limited impact from synthetic biology. Intrexon is committed to partnering with diverse companies to develop bio-based processes that displace petroleum-derived ingredients and polymers. Additionally, Intrexon is focused on reducing the wasteful practices associated with extracting compounds that occur in limiting amounts in plants and animals.
Through our Better DNA® approach, we plan to utilize innovative biologically-based applications for the development of products that improve the lives of consumers every day.


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Apple sent out invitations to the press on Tuesday to a media event on October 22nd, confirming a leak to AllThingsD a week ago. The invitations are titled "We still have a lot to cover," and the smart money says Apple will unveil new iPads and release the new Mac Pro and OS X Mavericks. The company could unveil new MacBook Pro models, as well.
The event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco at 10:00 AM PDT.
Invitation Sent to Several Media Outlets
In the time honored game of deciphering Apple's media invites, the name of this event—"We still have a lot to cover"—strongly indicates Apple will use the event to unveil several new products. As noted above, new iPads are all but a given, and it would make sense for Apple to release Mavericks and announce the shipping specs for the new Mac Pro that was officially announced at June's World Wide Developer Conference.
In addition, Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina Display line hasn't yet been updated with Intel's new Haswell processors, and new rumors have sprouted that Apple will unveil them at next week's event, too. This passes the sniff test for me, and it would serve to make more of this event about new products than focusing just on new iPads and the Mac Pro we already know.


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PayPal is making it more expensive to issue refunds
By Matt Collins Article may include affiliate links
PayPal has announced new rule that will make refunds and returns more expensive for ecommerce sellers that use the popular payment service.
- PayPal takes a flat 30 cents plus 2.9% of the total transaction amount as its fee for processing the payment.
- As it stands before May 7, 2019, if that transaction is refunded, the merchant gets back all the but 30 cents, which PayPal kept.
- However, effective May 7, PayPal will no longer refund the 2.9% portion of the transaction either, the company said in an update.
- This issue will become especially problematic for merchants who issue refunds.
- Whereas the 30 cents was relatively easy to absorb as a “cost of doing business,” having to lose 2.9% in addition to deal with the hassle of a return and refund could force stores to rethink their return and refund policies.
- If you aren’t prepared to absorb the 2.9% fee on refunded transactions, then you’ll want to stop taking PayPal on your Shopify store before May 7.
- Shopify store owners should also, if necessary, update their return and refund policies before May 7.


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Profile of Paul McDougallEditor At Large, InformationWeek
News & Commentary Posts: 3695
Paul McDougall is a former editor for InformationWeek.
Articles by Paul McDougall
posted in September 2008
A Redmond official insists it's early days in the race for market share and that Microsoft is just a killer app, or two, from catching Google.
The automaker is hoping new Web 2.0 tools will help build a loyal fan base that will see it through its industry's tough times.
Windows users can upload their stories to Microsoft's Web site and possibly see them displayed on the giant video board in New York City's Times Square.
The company says the displays will cut energy costs by 30% to 60% over its previous monitors.
The latest ad in Microsoft's $300 million Windows campaign features PC users from all walks of life, including a Microsoft engineer who mimics Apple pitchman John Hodgeman.
CEO Ronald Hovsepian said the company is saving big by using open source products internally.
Big Blue is developing new technologies to support better workplace collaboration and communication.
Purpose-built accounting machines? Water-cooled servers? IBM is taking a page from its past to deliver energy-saving systems for today and tomorrow.
The electronics retailer will pay $2.65 per share to acquire all of Napster's outstanding stock.
The software developer said it plans to work more closely with the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Transactions.
Microsoft's chairman gets funky, '80s-style, in the latest spot from Crispin Porter + Bogusky.
CEO Mark Shuttleworth said the Linux distributor is hiring designers and interactivity experts to help make its distribution more consistent and user-friendly.
Novell has optimized its SUSE Linux server OS to run in Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization environment.
Google runs special versions of its home page to mark everything from the Persian new year to the birthday of Diego Velazquez (who?). So what's on the search giant's Web site today--the seventh anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and UA Flight 93? As of Noon Eastern, nothing.
The device features numerous high-end features designed to appeal to power gamers.
The software developer's participation in OMG and Web services alliances with IBM and EMC, announced Wednesday, are the latest signs Redmond is opening up.
The Buy From FM service will allow users to purchase and download songs they hear on the radio through a wireless Internet connection.
The service pack gives users new tools for measuring ROI on Web marketing campaigns and key word purchases.
The software maker said it plans to release Hyper-V Server 2008 and System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 by Oct. 8.
Microsoft's new Windows ad, featuring Jerry Seinfeld, is outdated and not very funny -- but it's highly revealing of all that's wrong out there in Redmond.
Interop New York, the East Coast's largest business technology conference and exhibition, runs September 15 through 19th at the Jacob K Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan. Here's an alphabetical guide to key events, activities and entertainment inside and outside the show.
Microsoft is reducing the price of its hot-selling gaming console as competition with Sony and Nintendo heats up.


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By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
San Francisco — Jawbone, the headphone and wireless speaker company, has appointed Mindy Mount as president, a new position.
Mount was most recently corporate VP and chief financial officer of Microsoft’s online services division.
A spokesman for Jawbone told TWICE that the appointment was related to the company’s “rapid growth.” In February, Jawbone acquired Visere, a digital design firm, and Massive Health, makers of the Eatery app. It then acquired BodyMedia, a manufacturer of wearable body monitors, in April.
This TWICE webinar, hosted by senior editor Alan Wolf, will take a look at what may be the hottest CE products at retail that will be sold during the all-important fourth quarter. Top technologies, market strategies and industry trends will be discussed with industry analysts and executives.
Portland, Ore. — AudioSource has named industry veteran Lawrence R. Davis III sales and marketing VP, while finance and business development specialist John A. Scadden has been named chief financial officer.
AudioSource president and CEO Tom O’Mara, commenting on the appointments, said in a statement, “As we prepare for a string of product releases and overall retail expansion, AudioSource is ready with two of the top professionals in their respective fields. We’re lucky to have them on board.”
St. George, Utah — Wilson Electronics, a maker of cellphone signal boosters, has named Robert Van Buskirk as president/CEO and to its board.
Jim Wilson, the company’s founder, has stepped down as CEO but remains a member of the board. A spokesman for the company told TWICE that Wilson “will still be very involved in the growth of the company through his seat on the board and work with the engineering team, but he was ready to step down from the day-to-day decision making required of a CEO.”
St. Petersburg, Fla.- HSNi, the interactive multichannel retailer has named Judy Schmeling chief operating officer, effective immediately, and continues as chief financial officer.
Schmeling has served as HSNi's executive VP and chief financial officer since 2001.
In her new role, she will be responsible for supply chain operations and customer care functions in addition to providing ongoing leadership for finance and information technology. These four areas are now company-wide operations spanning HSN and the Cornerstone portfolio of home and lifestyle brands.
Chino Hills, Calif. — Gary Richard Bennett, a 40-year veteran of the consumer electronics industry, passed away on Thursday, May 9, after a 13-month battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
He was 64.
Bennett was born in Vestal, N.Y., on Aug. 25, 1948, and received a degree in business administration and marketing from Broom State College in Binghamton, N.Y.
Bennett worked for such consumer electronics companies as Hitachi, Spectron IQ 3D, Apex Digital and Mitsubishi.
Jupiter, Fla. — Home and car electronics distributor Audio America has named Jonathan Elster CEO, replacing Ryan Munder who will remain as chairman.
Elster comes from SED international, where he spent 18 years in a variety of roles, most recently as president and CEO.
“We could not have selected a better person for this position,” said Munder. “Jonathan brings tremendous leadership, experience, and vision to the organization. His energy and enthusiasm is apparent and I know he will lead us to incredible heights and even greater success.”
Hoffman Estates, Ill. — Sears Holdings has appointed Jeff Balagna executive VP and chief information officer.
Balagna joins Sears from Eli Lilly, where he held the same post. In his new role, he will be responsible for all technology and infrastructure initiatives within the company’s support centers and stores.
“Jeff is a proven executive with an analytical approach and experience in transforming complex organizations in rapidly evolving industries,” said Sears chairman/CEO Edward Lampert.
Green Bay, Wisc. — Marla Maney has been hired to the newly created position of marketing manager for outdoor and custom flat-panel TV resource Séura.
Maney will handle the marketing strategy for Séura while working closely with internal teams to the proper brand message is being conveyed to the outside world.
Santa Clara, Calif. — Intel’s board of directors today named company veteran Brian Kryzanich as its next CEO.
Kryzanich, 52, will replace Paul Otellini when he officially steps down from the position on May 16 during the company’s stockholder meeting. Otellini announced last November his intention to leave. He will have spent 38 years with Intel.
Kryzanich joined Intel in 1982.
Tokyo — Dozens of Sony executives, including CEO Kazuo Hirai, are foregoing bonuses this year to atone for the electronics units slumping sales and profit performance, according to reports from Japan Wednesday.
Hirai and approximately 40 top managers will forgo bonuses estimated to amount to several million dollars. Nikkei and AFP reports quoted a Sony spokesman in Japan attributing the action to "to severe business circumstances, including stagnant performance in the electronics sector.”


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Indian telecoms operator Bharti Airtel has acquired AuthMe ID Services (AuthMe), a Bengaluru-based start-up focused on artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions, in a bid to bloster its AI portfolio.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
As part of the deal, the core team of AuthMe will join Airtel and be a part of Airtel X Labs in Bengaluru.
Airtel set up Airtel X Labs to drive innovation in the areas of AI, IoT, AR and VR and is “building a world-class team” for the facility, the operator said in a statement released on Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to bring on board a bunch of highly talented people who share our passion for building exciting digital solutions that benefit our customers,”Bharti Airtel global CIO Harmeen Mehta said.
“We are rapidly scaling up Airtel X Labs, our digital innovation factory, and these new solutions will accelerate our journey towards rolling out intuitive digital products, particularly in vernacular languages, for our 430 million plus customers.”
In addition, Airtel has acquired the intellectual proprietary rights for two flagship solutions developed by AuthMe.
One of the solutions is called Callup AI,which has created a chat and voice assistant that uses AI to quickly and effectively resolve customer queries over email, chat and phone calls. The solution is used by 10 companies across three countries in banking, finance, payments and housing domains.
The other solution, the “Fintech OCR”, is an end to end Optical Character Recognition (OCR) pipeline built for financial documents. The application is designed for processing KYC docs, bank/credit card/loan statements, mark sheets, and can be customized to process known formats of other documents. It can pick up any language with standard fonts, Airtel said.
In a separate announcement, Airtel said it has launched its VoLTE services to Bengal and Sikkim to enable customers in all towns across the two states to enjoy HD quality voice calls with faster call setup time.


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Man Group shrugs off ban on short selling
Man Group, Britain's biggest listed hedge fund manager, today said it will be less badly hit by the ban on short selling of financial stock than many of its rivals.
Man ban: Hedge fund manager says new short selling rules will hit rivals more
The group's Stock Exchange announcement was aimed at boosting a share price which has fallen 13% since the ban came in last week on fears Man's earnings would be hit by the turmoil in financial markets.
It came just a day after it was revealed that Man itself wants to be added to the Financial Services Authority's list of 31 companies where short-selling is now illegal.
The ban mainly affects the long/short style of equity fund management, the group said. It added that it is traditionally underweight in this area.
Man also pointed out that AHL, one of its largest divisions, does not expect to be hit by the shortselling ban because it primarily uses share indices rather than individual equities to make downside bets.
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